Amnesia

Chapter 6: Unanswered Questions

Sakura woke up in the hospital, the same old room she had finally gotten out of merely days ago. While it was retrogression being back in the uncomfortable bed, it was much better than where she had previously been.

Pushing herself up and feeling no pain, she felt an immediate wave of relief wash over her when she noticed that Ino was sat by her side. "Ino! You're alive!" she exclaimed. "Was I dreaming all that?"

Ino smiled comfortingly and shook her head. "Of course I'm alive. Kiba is fine too... In fact, I think Tsunade did more damage to him than Sasuke did. She was furious when she found out that Sasuke had gotten into Konoha again...and it wasn't a dream, look, you're still wearing my dress."

Sakura looked down to see her friend was right. She was still in the uncomfortably short dress that Ino had picked out for her. "But what happened?"

Ino grinned. "You healed Naruto! But then passed out."

Sakura frowned. The last thing she could remember was being incredibly panicked, failing miserably to even stop her tears, let alone start healing the injured boy. "I don't remember... Is he OK?"

"He's fine, Sakura. I'm sure he'll be in here to talk to you soon."

Sakura relaxed, eased when she found Naruto was all right. She healed him but could not remember. He was fine, that's all that mattered - although she was confused about a lot of things, about everything, really.

Tsunade opened the door and walked into the room. Sakura looked up and smiled, hoping her mentor wasn't as mad now than she was when she was 'doing damage' to Kiba.

"Sakura, do you remember healing Naruto?" the sannin asked, she was serious and straight to the point, not even offering a greeting before she got down to the questions.

"No," she answered truthfully, just as abrupt.

"How did you heal him?" Tsunade inquired, looking her up and down as if she were trying to spot any changes that had resulted from the event.

Sakura shrugged, as clueless as everybody else. "Channelled chakra down my arms, or something."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Or something?"

All of a sudden Naruto was sat next to her. He grinned and replied for her, "That's how I told her you heal."

"Ah," Tsunade answered, her shoulders slouching ever so slightly.

Sakura couldn't help noticing that the older medic was disappointed, but she wasn't feeling much sympathy. "So, you're not too busy to talk to me now? You've been avoiding me all week."

Sakura frowned, annoyed that she only got to answer questions and not ask them. She was also annoyed that her mentor had avoided her, and not let her know that Naruto was out chasing her psychotic ex-teammate.

The Hokage shrugged absentmindedly. "I'm always busy, especially since I don't have my apprentice to do paperwork for me," she answered, and with a quick nod to Ino, the older medic left the room.

Sakura watched her go. When the door shut, she sighed. "Have I done something wrong?"

Ino glanced at the closed door before shaking her head. "No, I think she was just hopeful that you would remember something."

Sakura nodded glumly, the anger faded away as she realised she was just a big disappointment again. Seeing Sasuke hadn't been a pleasant experience. While it strengthened her already strong faith in Naruto, her faith in herself (that had risen since she spent time with Naruto and a little with Ino) faltered.

Sasuke seemed to think lowly of her; she was just bait to him, fun to upset. The images he has showed her were fresh in her mind. She looked at Ino seriously. "Sasuke keeps showing me memories, how's that possible? Although, the one of you dying was fake..."

Naruto jumped up and ran out of the room. She was startled at his speed and for a second she thought she had hurt him again, until moments later he returned with Kakashi. The masked man smiled in greeting.

"Kakashi-sensei! Can you show Sakura-chan her memories with the sharingan?" Naruto asked enthusiastically, pulling his team leader into the room.

Kakashi paused and looked at the younger male questioningly. "Is that a good idea?"

Naruto shrugged, not seeing any problems with his plan, simply stating, "Sasuke did it."

Kakashi moved towards her and sat on the end of the bed, twisting to face her.

"Do I get to see your face?" Sakura asked hopefully.

Kakashi chuckled and pulled his headband off from over his eye, much like he had done in the Naruto and Sasuke fight, and she saw why. His eye was much like Sasuke's, she found herself looking into a single red and black gaze.

That similar red eye was spinning and a whole new range of memories flashed before her. They seemed to jump from her being a little girl to more like now. There were missions and training sessions and...that's why it felt familiar when he jumped out of that crater - she made one just like that! She had definitely changed from being a small weak girl to now. She couldn't believe the power she seemed to release from simply punching the ground.

When the visions faded, she smiled, appeased by the more appealing memories of her past. "Thanks, Kakashi-sensei."

He nodded and gave her a friendly eye crease, but she couldn't help thinking he looked more sad than happy. Trying to cheer him up, she asked, "Now can I see your face?"

The next smile seemed more genuine as he got up and left the room, leaving her with her two teenage friends.

"So how do you feel now?" Ino asked.

She felt better than a moment ago, but...

"I feel like I'm missing sections of my life out," she mumbled.

Naruto looked sad again and she frowned, frustrated, she brought a hand to her head. "Ugh! I'm bringing everybody down because I can't remember!"

Ino smiled slightly. "I prefer you as you are now anyway."

Sakura raised an eyebrow and turned to Naruto. Did he like her more than before?

The sad look had gone from his eyes as he looked at her and added, "You can remember, Sakura-chan, maybe it will just take some time."

Nodding, the pinkette agreed, "I sure hope so."

Naruto smiled encouragingly at her.

There was a small silence before Sakura asked the blond, "So, your mission was to find Sasuke?"

He nodded slowly.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Sakura frowned before turning to Ino. "Why did nobody tell me?"

"I told you." Ino shrugged.

"You were drunk," she pointed out, rolling her eyes.

"Still told you." The blonde grinned.

Sakura shook her head.

Naruto looked at her seriously, not as amused as the party girl. "Sakura-chan...we were just trying to protect you."

Sakura raised her hand and clenched it in a fist, as if to strike the boy. Naruto immediately cowered and she paused.

She didn't know why... but she really wanted to hit him. She had been so worried. Lowering her hand again, she frowned. "Don't do it again."

Naruto looked up and grinned at her. "Yes ma'am!"

Sakura shook her head again. "How did you even find me?"

"We found Sasuke's temporary hideout...but he wasn't there." Naruto placed a hand over his heart. "And I had this feeling that you were in danger, so we sped back to Konoha to find that he had taken you. We turned straight back around and found you and him when we got back to his hideout."

Sakura frowned. "How did he even get into Konoha? Was he that close? If he was travelling from Konoha to his hideout and you were travelling from his hideout to Konoha, how come you didn't meet in the middle?"

Naruto swallowed. "We don't know. The barrier didn't pick him up, he wasn't tracked, he was within Konoha borders and we didn't know about it."

Ino saw the worry in Sakura's friend's eyes and shot a warning glance at the male. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"Why not?" Sakura frowned.

Naruto cleared his throat. "He thinks I'm dead, he won't come back. You don't have to worry, Sakura-chan, you're safe now."

"Is that the truth?" Sakura looked him in the eyes.

"Yes," Ino replied for him.

Sakura looked to Ino before looking back at Naruto. He smiled.

"OK then." She nodded, giving them the benefit of the doubt.

While she still had questions, she didn't want to upset her friends if they thought this Sasuke ordeal was over. Perhaps she would ask more about it when it had all blown over.

A month later and Sakura still had no recollection of her ninja life before she woke up in the hospital, not even the memories she had been shown sparked anything - it was like they were dreams, it wasn't really her she had seen in the vision.

Naruto left on a mission yesterday, which meant her life was about to get considerably more boring for a while. She was still living with Ino, but she had her own apartment apparently. Why couldn't she live there? The question was growing in her mind. There was nothing wrong with living with her best friend, but Sakura was accustomed to fitting in around Ino's lifestyle and she was really ready to make her own routine.

Sakura got up out of bed, very awake despite only waking up mere minutes ago (which was rare for her). Her thoughts had her mind reeling with questions.

She walked across the Yamanaka's landing until she came across her friend's room, knocking the door, she entered to see her friend already dressed and tying up her hair in the mirror.

"Hey, Ino," she said, attempting to sound cheerful.

The blonde glanced at her in the mirror and smiled. "Morning, Forehead, you're up early."

Sakura nodded slowly. "So are you."

"I work at the hospital today," the blonde answered with a shrug.

Walking further into the room, Sakura sat on the bed and watched her friend getting ready. "Can I come with you?"

Ino hummed. "Why?"

"Naruto's on a mission..." Sakura trailed off.

Ino smirked. "And you have no other friends."

The pinkette pouted. "Do to."

"Like?" Ino pushed, her amusement growing.

"Kakashi...Kiba, uhh..." Sakura frowned, not able to think of anybody else. "All those people who came to see me in the hospital."

Grinning, Ino moved her head from side to side to observe her newly-tied ponytail, before standing up. "They're not your friends. They were just people in your year who were ordered to come and see you by the Hokage."

Sakura pouted.

"So yes, you can come to the hospital with me. I don't know what you'll do mind you."

"OK." Sakura nodded, just pleased that she would get to go to work with her. "I'll go get ready."

"Be quick," Ino told her. "There are only so many times that I can use the excuse 'my brain-damaged friend made me late'."

Sakura shook her head but speedily left the room to get showered and dressed.

She was fairly sure she had yet to make Ino late.

On the way to the hospital, Sakura glanced around at all the houses, her mind once again focussed on her own living space. "Hey, Ino? I have my own house right?"

"You have an apartment, yes," Ino confirmed.

"Why can't I live there?" she asked curiously.

Ino raised an eyebrow and looked at her. "Bored of me already?"

"No," Sakura shook her head, "I'm just wondering why I have to live with you, even though I have my own place."

"That's what Tsunade ordered." Ino shrugged.

"So I need to ask her about it?" Sakura mumbled. "But she barely talks to me. I thought she had been my mentor for years."

Ino sighed. "She has. I think it's been hard on her. You've forgotten everything she's taught you over the years. You don't even know who she is."

Sakura lowered her head, staring at her feet. "So I'm a big disappointment to her."

Ino was silent for a moment, thinking carefully before she added, "I think she just misses you."

Sakura's eyes widened and she raised her head again to study her friend. "Do you?"

Ino gave her a small smile. "I told you, Sakura, you're way more fun now."

When they reached the hospital, Sakura smiled at Ino, her mind made up. "I'm going to go and talk to Tsunade-sama."

Ino raised an eyebrow, but accepted her plan, watching as her friend turned around to exit the building again. "OK, I'll come and find you when I head home, don't get lost."

Sakura glanced behind her and frowned slightly. "I won't get lost."

Ino watched her as she walked down the path and took a left.

"Sakura!" Ino shouted after her, moving back to the entrance to hold the front door open as it began to close behind the pinkette.

Pausing, Sakura looked back to see the blonde smirking and pointing in the other direction.

"Wrong way, Forehead."

Turning around in a disorientated circle, Sakura looked either side of the path before shaking her head and walking in the other direction.

Sakura stood outside the Hokage's office, not quite sure whether to knock or even what she was going to say.

Tsunade must have sensed her, because Sakura heard the Hokage shout, "Come in!"

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and entered the room.

"Finally, Sakura, you've not forgotten how to open a door now have you?" Tsunade asked, smiling at her.

Sakura didn't know whether that was a joke or not, she awkwardly replied, "No."

The sannin looked back down to continue reading the book open on her desk.

Sakura shuffled about slightly when her mentor didn't say anything else.

Tsunade glanced back up. "Forgotten what you were going to say?"

Sakura frowned. "No."

"Spit it out then." Tsunade smirked.

"Can I live in my old house?" Sakura asked.

The Hokage raised an eyebrow, surprised at the request, and then glanced down at her reading material again. "Why? Ino annoying you that much?"

Sakura shook her head. While Ino did manage to annoy her frequently, the blonde offered her familiarity and prevented her from getting lost as much. "I'd like to see it and maybe live there again," she explained, looking hopeful in case her mentor raised her head once more.

Tsunade sighed and flicked over the page. "I'm sorry. You're living with Ino so she can keep an eye of you. We don't know what can happen in your mind state."

Sakura frowned. "I'm not a child. I don't want to spend the rest of my life being looked after."

"It's not your choice," Tsunade mumbled.

"It should be!" Sakura exclaimed.

"I have nothing else to say on the matter," her mentor said with finality, still not bothering to meet her gaze

Sakura could tell by her mentor's demeanour that there was no arguing. Lowering her head, she mumbled, "I'm sorry I've disappointed you, shishou."

Turning around, she headed for the door.

"Wait," Tsunade stopped her.

Sakura turned back to see the blonde open a draw of her desk and pull out a pair of keys.

Tsunade smiled at her and tossed the keys in her direction. "Your house keys."

Sakura caught the item and her eyes widened. "Thank you."

"If you can find you house," Tsunade added with a smirk.

Sakura looked down at the keys in her hands, stumped. "How do I find it?"

"Feel it out," Tsunade answered helpfully.

Konoha was a big place. How could she find one apartment?

"Can I have a hint?" She smiled sweetly.

Tsunade smirked. "Nope. No asking Ino either."

Sakura didn't think she could find Ino if she tried. Turning around, she headed for the door again, determined to find where she used to live.

OK, she'd be honest. She had no idea where she was going. There were rows upon rows of houses either side of her, but she had no idea if she even lived on this side of town.

'Feel it out.'

How in the world was she supposed to do that?

Maybe she could just try her key with every door, but that would take her months. Walking around slowly, she looked at all of the buildings and she had to admit, Konoha was a very pretty place. Only when she was with Naruto had she taken the time to admire her surroundings.

While it didn't look as magical as when it was lit up at night, there was something strangely comforting about the buildings around her.

It felt like home.

Smiling to herself, she put her keys away and began taking in the details of the houses. Sakura ended up walking into a shopping area, a small marketplace, which was pretty busy. The people were really nice too. She smiled at a group of children playing tag.

She quickly got carried away, only when it began to get dark did she realise how long it had been - and she hadn't found her house. She glanced around the area she was in now. Compared to where Ino lived, this section seemed a little rundown, but the buildings were still pretty.

She'd have to go and find Ino. Surely the blonde would be out of work by now.

As she glanced up, she saw an apartment. She stared for a moment because something seemed very familiar about it... Walking up the steps towards it, she pulled out her keys and stood in front of the door.

There was more than one key on her key ring. Picking what seemed like the main house key, she put it in the lock.

It didn't fit.

Pulling it back out, she sighed and went to turn away. Then she paused, looking at her keys she saw a smaller one that looked like it may fit the lock.

Holding her breath, she put the key into the keyhole.

It fitted.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She turned it and heard a click.

"What are you doing?" a female voice sounded from behind her.

Sakura jumped at the sound of her friend's voice. "Ino!" Sakura frowned and turned around. "You scared me."

The blonde smirked. "Why are you trying to get into Naruto's apartment?"

Her eyes widened. This was Naruto's house? Turning the key and locking the door, she pulled the metal out and studied it. Tsunade gave her the keys to Naruto's apartment? Why?

Frowning, she walked back down the steps to where Ino was stood before showing her the keys.

"Why've you got them?" Ino asked curiously.

"Tsunade gave them to me," Sakura mumbled, "she said I could live in my house if I found it."

Ino smiled. "You made her change her mind?"

"Apparently not, why have I got the wrong keys?" Sakura frowned.

"They're the right keys," Ino answered and began to walk away.

Sakura's eyes widened. "I live with Naruto?"

"Yup."

That couldn't be right.

Glancing back at Naruto's place, she thought about it, it did seem familiar... No, she didn't live with Naruto.

Running after her friend, she called out, "Wait up, Ino!"

The blonde glanced back at her and grinned. "I thought you were sleeping at your house?"

"That's not my house, is it?"

Ino flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Nope! You just have a key to his apartment on your key ring."

"Why?" Sakura raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know. I think you refused to go through his window and scared him every time you broke in through the front door." Ino hummed.

Sakura laughed and shook her head, still following the blonde.

"...Where are we going, Ino?"

"The long way," Ino murmured. "You may as well finish your walk around town, right?"

Sakura smiled, walking in silence alongside her friend, she continued to view the buildings around her. A little further down the road, she paused, the building on the left side of the road felt familiar. In a way, she could see herself choosing somewhere like that to live.

Ino stopped walking and glanced at her friend. "Do you remember something?"

"I don't know," Sakura mumbled.

Walking up to the tall building, she glanced at her keys. These were apartment buildings.

"Do I live here?" she questioned hopefully.

"Maybe," Ino smiled, "go in and find out."

Sakura nodded before walking up to the doors. Opening them, she slowly entered the building and looked around her. There was a flight of stairs on the right hand side of the room. Heading towards them, she began to climb upwards. When she reached the first floor, she opened the door and walked along the corridor.

All the rooms seemed the same. Key in hand, she glanced at each door.

As she kept walking, her hope began to falter. No, she didn't know which room it was, if she lived here at all.

Sighing, she lowered her head.

"Turn over the key," Ino said encouragingly.

Doing so, Sakura found a number engraved on the back of the metal.

Number 15.

She looked up again to see a number 15 on the door in front of her. Using the key she had first tried with Naruto's door, she slipped it into the lock. It clicked and she pushed the door open. Her eyes widened.

This was her home.

"I'll come over tomorrow, Sakura," Ino told her before walking back down the corridor.

Sakura stood there for a moment. When she heard the door downstairs close, she stepped in and shut her own door slowly. Putting the key in the other side of the door, she closed it and turned around.

In front of her was an open living room. A little kitchen area was on the right and there were a few closed doors. It was small, but tidy.

Walking further into the room, she ran her hand along the sofa, heading to the first closed door. Opening it, she saw a double bed. The bedroom.

As she walked towards the bed, she paused. There was a dresser and a mirror. On the dresser was a photograph. Picking it up, she looked at it.

Her Team 7 photograph.

Sitting on her bed, she studied the picture. Little Naruto and Sasuke didn't look pleased at all, she laughed. Kakashi looked no different and her...she rubbed over her image with her thumb...she looked happy.

Although she had seen memories of this moment, it was all in her mind. It felt like it was just a dream and nothing more... But this was real, this was her past.

She closed her eyes, a few stray tears falling down her cheeks and onto the photograph.

Placing the photo on the spare pillow by her side, she lay down and closed her eyes again, willing herself to go to sleep.

Author Notes:

I wanted to thank you for all your reviews, criticism and all. If you're ever confused, feel free to tell me. Perhaps I shouldn't have left the last chapter at a cliff-hanger, because if I had added the hospital scene of this chapter at the end of the last, it may have answered some of your questions. If you don't understand something, that's me not communicating it properly as the writer. Hopefully I cleared up some of the questions from the last chapter?

So feel free to tell me what you don't understand, ask me questions, it makes me think and hopefully I can either answer them within the story or as a reply. The thing about Sakura having no memory is that the other characters don't particularly want to tell her things that might make her think she's in danger, or that anybody is in danger, or something that might upset her etc. Some questions that are coming up, I do plan to answer later on.

Honestly, I didn't know about the protective barrier around Konoha. I started this a few years ago and hadn't thought about it – when I wrote it, I just wanted Sasuke to be there. Looking back, I wouldn't have included him at all. But that's hindsight for you. This chapter starts shaping the real plot; Sakura's journey to find herself and who she is supposed to be.

In the next couple of chapters, at some point, I might go slightly psychological on you. I apologise if that will confuse you, amnesia and the brain can be complicated and I'd like to make Sakura's memory loss quite realistic.

I tried to leave it at a less cliff-hangery spot and a more boring part of the story. Naruto is on a mission, how much trouble can Sakura cause on her own? ;)

Thanks for reading!